NOTE: Starting from this chapter, I will use POV 1.
Participants who chose the Elephant trait advanced to replace the fallen Indian Tiger. His front legs were raised high, and once again, his trunk emitted a loud trumpeting sound, causing the tail of the Apex to twitch anxiously.
In a matter of seconds, the Elephant's legs came crashing down, pounding the ground with a resounding thud that made the surrounding earth tremble. The rocks that served as my hiding place crumbled, causing me to slip! With my long hind legs, he instinctively leaped, avoiding the rockslide and searching for new footholds. It was then that I noticed perfectly formed spiderwebs with irregular patterns stretching between the large stone walls behind me!
My eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for the tracks of participant number 11, but he had vanished. What did this mean? Why did he set a trap behind me? Was he specifically targeting me?
I recalled the suspicious glances he had cast to me way back when we were still inside the Dome. He must recognize me! And he is targeting me!
"Fufufu..." A mocking laughter echoed from the sky.
I saw the two Hyenas from earlier observing me, laughing disdainfully. Their obvious attention made me suspicious that the three of them were working together. Was this what Magenta had warned me about, player sabotage?
My opponent wasn't just the Apex! I also had to be cautious of them! Using my hind legs, I leaped away, currently seeking refuge. Where should I go? If my back remained exposed like before, participant number 11 could once again lurk behind me, while the open area was occupied by the Hyena who could freely attack me.
Let's not forget the Apex predator who was currently engaged in a fierce battle with the Elephant. The Elephant could only leap around to intimidate the Apex. These leaps made the rock formations in the area vulnerable to being stepped on.
I could see that the Apex was merely toying with him, as it didn't take long for the Elephant's strength to dwindle. Of course! Elephants couldn't endure hot air and needed to be close to a water source.
The trumpeting sound from his trunk now sounded more like a wheeze. The Elephant was panting, trying to gather his strength, but the Apex didn't give him a moment's respite, because that was his goal! With lightning speed, it sliced through all four ankles of the Elephant.
Like the fallen Tiger, the Elephant collapsed to its side, its leg tendons severed. Its breaths became shallow, a result of severe dehydration. The Apex predator licked its claws with satisfaction.
The wild dog leaped towards it, barking loudly. Where had it been all this time? If only they had collaborated earlier, the outcome would have been different!
No need to worry about others! I have to save myself!
"System, give me information about the participant with spider traits."
[Darwin. Male. 23 years old. Bronze C Level.]
"What does that level mean?"
[Games won: 12.]
"Hmm... Quite a lot. What about my level?"
[Ian Worth. Male. 19 years old. Iron D Level.]
"And the two Hyenas above?"
[Finn and Cam. 18 years old. Iron A Level.]
"What does that mean?"
[Games won: 4.]
"Ah... So, the Bronze level has only 5 stages, while Gold has 10 stages, is that correct?"
[That's correct.]
They are more experienced than me, especially Darwin... He cannot be underestimated, surviving 12 games, remarkable.
"Show me the game."
A screen appeared in front of my vision, allowing me to continue watching the game and think of ways to evade it.
I spotted a small corridor amidst the stone walls. I entered it, using the stridulating organ on my forewings to produce a distinct cricket-like sound. The sound bounced back, and I proceeded to move away from that hole.
Another opening appeared, and I leaped into it. Just like before, I emitted a brief sound, and my sensitive antennae detected the vibration moving farther away and eventually fading.
As I was about to turn back, I noticed that the entrance had been covered by Darwin with his spiderweb. I saw for myself that he had upgraded the web, now transformed into iron. I wouldn't be able to escape from here easily.
Darwin chose the combat insect, and I have to be careful with him, as what he possesses can be neurotoxic, swiftly paralyzing my nerves, just like the venomous fangs of the Apex predator.
In this confined space, my body doesn't have much room to maneuver, but we are both creatures of the earth. So, this is a familiar place for both of us.
Darwin approaches me quickly, his two venomous fangs poised to strike! I swiftly move backward, evading him, continuously... continuing to burrow deeper into the narrowing earth.
Darwin laughs mockingly, feeling that he has cornered me.
"What makes you so special that Magenta is so obsessed with capturing you, fool! I will prove that his judgment is wrong!"
Darwin then accelerates his pace until we are dangerously close. He leaps and attempts to sink his fangs into my front leg, but just as he is about to land, I kick his body, sending him flying.
My recent attack had no impact on Darwin, as he quickly turns around and resumes chasing me. Now, with a more determined and angry expression!
Darwin performs zigzag movements, leaping from left to right on the walls with an irregular rhythm, making it difficult for me to predict his next move. I feel the gust of wind on my back.
"Where are you going now? You're dead! Loser!" Darwin shouts from above, an area where I can't attack.
BOOM!!
Right near the other exit, my body enlarges tenfold, demolishing the tunnel and burying Darwin alive. The amount of soil is surely too much for his small and fragile body to bear.
"Wow! He defeated Darwin! Who would have predicted that!" The two Hyenas above exclaim, applauding with their front paws.
"Noisy," I retort, then leap to find a new spot. The battle between the Apex and the wild dog has long ended, and now the Apex is heading towards this location due to the sound I created during my transformation.
"Wow, he's so arrogant, Finn. He doesn't understand what we're capable of."
"Should we do it now, brother? Magenta said she'll reward us handsomely."
"Hehe, what are we waiting for!!"
They then descend towards me.
"Damn!!" I curse as I haven't found any shelter yet. Fighting against both of them will undoubtedly be more difficult than facing Darwin. Not only because of their larger size but also in terms of their numbers.
The enlarging potion I used won't last long, but the two Hyenas are currently targeting me.
THUMP. THUMP.
The sound of the two animals landing in front and behind me. Blocking my entry into the underground tunnel. They realize my intention.
'Damn!!'
"You can't escape, you little creature..."
"Hehe... After Darwin's demise, will it be us who rise to take his place in The Hexad Squad?"
"It's possible. For that, we have to prove ourselves to Magenta by eliminating this loser!"
'What are they talking about? And the way they speak of Magenta with such respect, is he some kind of saint? That's unlikely, his predator aura is too strong. Besides, he ordered them to kill me in the game.'
With his front paws, Cam, who is behind me, attempts to catch me, but I manage to leap and evade him.
"That's all you got, Cam?!"
"Shut up, Finn! He's extremely agile!"
Both of them then work together to capture me, but with their current forms, it proves challenging for them to catch me.
"Cam, let's use that technique!" Finn signals to Cam.
'What technique are they about to unleash?' I have to prepare for a sudden attack. I must be ready.
Both of them take flight in the air, flapping their wide wings, causing the dry, vegetation-less soil around me to rise and obscure my senses with the dust.
I can't feel the vibrations in the air due to the thickness of the storm-like dust surrounding me. Wherever I jump, the two Hyenas continue to pursue me, enclosing me within the dusty walls.
I can't perceive my surroundings due to the chaos they've created.
Just as the Apex predator arrives unnoticed, it leaps high and catches Finn in its jaws!
Their attack on me comes to a halt.
"Finn!!" Cam shouts as he sees his twin brother weakened by the Apex's venom.
Cam swiftly descends, intending to retaliate against the Apex's attack on his brother.
"Armoured Shield!" he exclaims, and an impenetrable shield materializes in front of him, colliding with the Apex at great speed.
The Apex is thrown off and tumbles about. Cam takes advantage of the opportunity to grab Finn and fly higher into the air, far beyond the Apex's reach.
"You will face the big cat, you loser! If you die, victory will be mine!" he shouts before disappearing into the distance.
The situation is truly disadvantageous for me! I gaze at the sun, which is about to vanish on the horizon, unaware that we've been engaged in battle for so long.
"System, remaining time."
[Time remaining: 2 hours.]
The wall of dust created by Finn and Cam dissipates, and I leap upon seeing a tunnel in the ground.
My body shrinks back to its normal size and enters the narrow crevice underground, just as the Apex's claws are about to ensnare me!